Sunday was not a spectacular one in fake football land. At least not for me. There were lots of duds, injuries, benchings and a general malaise across the NFL world and here is some of it —
After taking a mandatory quarter nap Arian Foster still ended the game with 187 total yards and 2 touchdowns. If Kubiak had let him start he would have had exactly 233.75 yards and 2.5 TDs. He was benched for missing a meeting or being late or eating Gary’s last Boston Cream Pie Yoplait, and this will probably nip that in the bud, but I would have liked that 33 yard TD that Derrick Ward had count for my team instead of nobody’s team. Foster leads the league in rushing and yards per carry, well Jamaal Charles actually leads in yards per carry, but he doesn’t get enough carries for some crazy reason.
David Garrard/Shaun Hill: Tom Brady or Chad Henne may have something t0 say about this, but for now Garrard and Hill are this week’s #1 and #2 fantasy QBs. Both are capable of games like these, but will never be consistent.
Terrell Owens: Holy schnikies, T.O. and Palmer did all types of things I didn’t expect of them. T.O.’s long TD came after his defender fell down, but he is clearly the #1, and for some reason the Bengals can’t run the football. Palmer had a huge game, but looked a little bluh. His arm is still limp noodlesque. I could see trying to sell high on Owens.
Zach Miller: There’s my guy! With my other guy, Cutler, taking a big crap in the middle of the field, under the lights in New Jersey, I need to tout my man Miller. 11 receptions, 122 yards and a TD is how you do it.
Steven Jackson: The Rams running back was wearing what he called a “groin contraption.” He goes on to say,”It’s just to lock the groin in and make sure I don’t get overextended.” I will leave that alone.
LaDainian Tomlinson: He continued his resurgence with a Bills beat down, while Shonn Greene also had a decent, but TDless game in mop up duty. I will concede, because it’s way too obvious not to, that LT is the obvious #1, but as you watch RBs drop like flies (dead flies) you have to like Greene’s situation in the long term. He’s not going to live up to his draft position, but don’t drop him just because you’re pissed.
Ryan Torain: I can’t say Torain is going to take you to fantasy greatness, but we all knew that Portis couldn’t/won’t hold up all season and of course he left the game with a groin injury. Torain had a few nice runs and gets a boost with Portis’ injury.
Antonio Gates: The absence of VJax has helped Gates become even more of a stud. He is on pace to break his TE touchdown record easily, but he won’t score 24 touchdowns which should help Malcolm Floyd in the long run.
Mike Sims-Walker: Another zero catch game. What a piece of worthless hyphenation.
Reggie Wayne: The anti MSW had 15 receptions for almost 200 yards. He’s still an elite receiver. You just have to be ready for a down game once in a while because Manning won’t force things.
Santana Moss: His zero receptions aren’t nearly enough, but that 5 yard carry was really nice. But since McNabb completed a hefty 8 passes in the ugliest game since that Bears/Giants game I just watched (wait, I’d need a time machine for that to work), I think he’ll be ok.
Maurice Jones-Drew: And you were ready to throw him on the scrap heap. MJD got into the end zone twice, once by air, once by ground and once by water, except for the water part. He gets the Bills next week, which should be fun for him.
Calvin Johnson: And you were ready to throw him on the scrap heap. Oh wait, I already used that one. He is too good to hold down and Hill was smart enough to give him a chance to go up for the ball in the end zone, even in double coverage.
Ahmad Bradshaw: In an ugly game Bradshaw had a gem, that is until he got Don Beebe’d at the goal line. Anyway you look at it, Bradshaw is good at running with the football. He does run with reckless abandon, so it would be nice to have Jacobs backing him up.
Michael Vick: There are many reports coming out about Vick’s injury, but nothing is clear at this point. He will go in for a MRI tomorrow and we should know more. Kevin Kolb looked like a Trent Edwards clone which helped McCoy rack up receptions, but that was bout it. Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson better hope that Vick is a quick healer.
Michael Bush: This may have been the last week we see Darren McFadden as the clear cut #1 RB. He pulled up with a hurt hamstring, which will almost certainly give Bush more carries going forward. Bush was already getting goal line work and now should start to split carries. This was really the worst time for Run DMC to get hurt.
Brandon Lloyd: Lloyd has been the only consistent Bronco receiver from week to week. He’s averaging over 18 yards a reception and is second in receiving yards. It is baffling, but that’s what’s up.
Jay Cutler: So, negative points aren’t what you are looking for in your starting QB? Cutler held the ball too long and his offensive line was offensive. That makes for a whole bunch of sacks and an early exit due to a concussion. He’ll have to pass tests and whatnot to be able to play next week, so make sure you have a backup in case.
Joel Dreesen: Dreesen looked much better than Owen Daniels who had some tightness in his hamstring, but who also has had 3 ACL surgeries. There is no reason to hold onto Daniels.
Ryan Mathews: Mike Tolbert went off at the expense of Mathews who had an elbow injury nobody ever heard about and the ankle problem that was supposed to be done with. Thankfully Mathews had a decent game backing up Tolbert and got a garbage TD. Turner said Mathews is his guy and Tolbert was started hot and stayed in. I pretty much believe him.
Marques Colston: He had another down game and if you drafted him you are really pissed! Especially if you happened to draft him instead of Foster! But you need to keep him. His targets are still there and his zero TDs will rise from zero. I’d see if you can get him for chump change.
Laurence Maroney: Wow, talk about horrid. Most of the game he was at negative yards rushing. The Broncos hope Moreno gets back soon.
